Tesla Sweden recently took a stand against union IF Metall using its Superchargers.
Tesla Sweden highlighted just how much the union’s actions and protests are inconveniencing everyone—even drivers outside the electric vehicle maker.
Tesla Sweden vs IF Metall
- IF Metall’s strike against Tesla Sween has been going on for over a year now.
- The EV maker is not just in conflict with IF Metall either, as other unions have implemented sympathy strikes to disrupt Tesla Sweden’s operations.
- As a result of these sympathy strikes, some Supercharger stations that have been built by Tesla remain inactive even if the sites themselves are completed.
- This was because some employees of companies responsible for connecting the Superchargers to the grid are forbidden from working with Tesla due to their collective agreements.
- There are currently five new, completed Supercharger stations with 72 stalls that remain inactive across the country.
Ready for Connection – But When?
A single Supercharger in Sweden helps avoid approximately 60,000 kg of CO2 emissions annually.
Today, there are more than 1,200 Superchargers across Sweden, and Tesla is eager to continue expanding the network to ensure smoother and more… https://t.co/G2izdxq9ij pic.twitter.com/EqT5rRpGiU— Nicklas ???T??♻️? (@NicklasNilsso14) December 20, 2024
Tesla Sweden’s jab
- In what appears to be a jab against IF Metall and its allies, Tesla opted to post a clear message on its completed but inactive Superchargers.
- “Here, all EV drivers could charge for emission-free travel, contributing to a sustainable Sweden,” Tesla wrote on its inactive Supercharger sites. The fact that the Superchargers are “Ready to Connect” was also highlighted.
- Other Tesla Superchargers featured a message stating that one Supercharger in Sweden helps avoid approximately 60,000 kg of CO2 emissions annually.
- Tesla also included a graphic of the company’s hedgehog mascot, which was wearing a vest that stated, “Thanks, I’m good.” The vest was worn by Tesla Sweden employees who did not participate in the union’s protests against the electric vehicle maker.
We're ready to turn on 72 Supercharger stalls for the holidays for all Swedish EV drivers. Superchargers are the most affordable charging, support all EVs, and are critical infrastructure to support peak travel days. Important for EV adoption in Sweden that current & future… https://t.co/fapfkHH3sp— Max de Zegher (@MdeZegher) December 20, 2024
A potential Tesla lifeline
- The refusal of local energy companies to connect Tesla’s completed Superchargers is reportedly under investigation by the Swedish Energy Markets Inspectorate, as noted in a report from Allt Om Elbil.
- As noted by the publication, local energy companies typically only deny the connections of installations like EV charging stations due to issues like lack of network capacity or other “specific reasons.”
- It then remains to be seen if IF Metall’s protests against Tesla qualify as valid “specific reasons.”
- The investigation is expected to be completed by spring 2025.
Between December to March, Ljusdal, located in central Sweden records over 1600 charging sessions per month, enabling emission free travel for drivers during the skiing season just off route 84. During this busy period, drivers often experience ques & last year, over 300 vehicles… pic.twitter.com/7iClQ0CT4V— Oliver Dodd (@Olliedodd) December 21, 2024
What they’re saying:
- Jerker Sidén, an analyst at the Energy Markets Inspectorate, shared some insights about the matter.
- “That’s what we are investigating. Historically, we haven’t had many cases about denied connections. This is what we’re assessing now,” the analyst noted.
- Tesla Director of Charging Max de Zegher also shared his thoughts on the matter in a post on X.
- “We’re ready to turn on 72 Supercharger stalls for the holidays for all Swedish EV drivers. Superchargers are the most affordable charging, support all EVs, and are critical infrastructure to support peak travel days. Important for EV adoption in Sweden that current & future Superchargers get energized asap by utilities currently blocking us from opening them,” the Tesla executive wrote.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
News
Tesla FSD Supervised is about to get a lot more ride-alongs in Europe begin in Italy, France, and Germany
The program allows the public to hop in as a non-driving observer to witness FSD navigate urban streets firsthand.
Tesla has kicked off passenger ride-alongs for Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in Italy, France and Germany. The program allows the public to hop in as a non-driving observer to witness FSD navigate urban streets firsthand.
The program, detailed on Tesla’s event pages, arrives ahead of a potential early 2026 Dutch regulatory approval that could unlock a potential EU-wide rollout for FSD.
Hands-Off Demos
Tesla’s ride-along invites participants to “ride along in the passenger seat to experience how it handles real-world traffic & the most stressful parts of daily driving, making the roads safer for all,” as per the company’s announcement on X through its official Tesla Europe & Middle East account.
Sign-ups via localized pages offer free slots through December, with Tesla teams piloting vehicles through city streets, roundabouts and highways.
“Be one of the first to experience Full Self-Driving (Supervised) from the passenger seat. Our team will take you along as a passenger and show you how Full Self-Driving (Supervised) works under real-world road conditions,” Tesla wrote. “Discover how it reacts to live traffic and masters the most stressful parts of driving to make the roads safer for you and others. Come join us to learn how we are moving closer to a fully autonomous future.”
-->Building trust towards an FSD Unsupervised rollout
Tesla’s FSD (Supervised) ride-alongs could be an effective tool to build trust and get regular car buyers and commuters used to the idea of vehicles driving themselves. By seating riders shotgun, Tesla could provide participants with a front row seat to the bleeding edge of consumer-grade driverless systems.
FSD (Supervised) has already been rolled out to several countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and partially in China. So far, FSD (Supervised) has been received positively by drivers, as it really makes driving tasks and long trips significantly easier and more pleasant. FSD is a key safety feature as well, which became all too evident when a Tesla driving on FSD was hit by what seemed to be a meteorite in Australia. The vehicle moved safely despite the impact, though the same would likely not be true had the car been driven manually.
News
Swedish union rep pissed that Tesla is working around a postal blockade they started
Tesla Sweden is now using dozens of private residences as a way to obtain license plates for its vehicles.
Two years into their postal blockade, Swedish unions are outraged that Tesla is still able to provide its customers’ vehicles with valid plates through various clever workarounds.
Seko chairman Gabriella Lavecchia called it “embarrassing” that the world’s largest EV maker, owned by CEO Elon Musk, refuses to simply roll over and accept the unions’ demands.
Unions shocked Tesla won’t just roll over and surrender
The postal unions’ blockade began in November 2023 when Seko and IF Metall-linked unions stopped all mail to Tesla sites to force a collective agreement. License plates for Tesla vehicles instantly became the perfect pressure point, as noted in a Dagens Arbete report.
Tesla responded by implementing initiatives to work around the blockades. A recent investigation from Arbetet revealed that Tesla Sweden is now using dozens of private residences, including one employee’s parents’ house in Trångsund and a customer-relations staffer’s home in Vårby, as a way to obtain license plates for its vehicles.
Seko chairman Gabriella Lavecchia is not pleased that Tesla Sweden is working around the unions’ efforts yet again. “It is embarrassing that one of the world’s largest car companies, owned by one of the world’s richest people, has sunk this low,” she told the outlet. “Unfortunately, it is completely frivolous that such a large company conducts business in this way.”
-->Two years on and plates are still being received
The Swedish Transport Agency has confirmed Tesla is still using several different workarounds to overcome the unions’ blockades.
As noted by DA, Tesla Sweden previously used different addresses to receive its license plates. At one point, the electric vehicle maker used addresses for car care shops. Tesla Sweden reportedly used this strategy in Östermalm in Stockholm, as well as in Norrköping and Gothenburg.
Another strategy that Tesla Sweden reportedly implemented involved replacement plates being ordered by private individuals when vehicles change hands from Tesla to car buyers. There have also been cases where the police have reportedly issued temporary plates to Tesla vehicles.
News
Czech Deputy excited for Tesla FSD, hints at Transport Committee review
The ANO party lawmaker shared his thoughts about FSD in a post on social media platform X.
Martin Kolovratník, a Czech Republic Chamber of Deputies member, has expressed his excitement for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) after an apparent constituent called for a quick approval for the advanced safety system.
The ANO party lawmaker, who drives both diesel and EV, shared his thoughts about the matter in a post on social media platform X.
The official’s initial statements
Kolovratník kicked off the exchange with a post outlining his coalition’s efforts to scrap highway toll exemptions for electric vehicles and plug-ins starting in 2027.
“Times have changed. Electric vehicles are no longer a fringe technology, but a full-fledged part of operations. And if someone uses the highway network, they should follow the same rules as everyone else. That’s the basis of fairness,” he wrote.
He emphasized equity over ideology, noting his personal mix of diesel and electric driving. “For this reason, there is no reason to continue favoring one technology at the expense of another… It’s not about ideology, it’s about equal conditions. That’s why we clearly agreed within the new coalition: the exemption for electric vehicles and plug-ins will end in 2027. The decision is predictable, understandable, and economically sound.”
-->Tesla FSD enthusiasm
The conversation pivoted to Tesla’s FSD when X user @robotinreallife, who seems to be one of the official’s constituents, replied that other matters are more important than ending highway exemptions for EVs.
“I’m happy to pay for the highway, but I have a question about a much more fundamental matter: The Netherlands will approve the operation of Tesla FSD in February 26, a technology that has been proven to reduce accidents. The Czech Republic has the option to immediately recognize this certification. Do you plan to support this step so that we don’t unnecessarily delay?” the X user asked.
Kolovratník responded promptly, sharing his own excitement for the upcoming rollout of FSD. “I know about it. I like it and it seems interesting to me. Once we set up the committees and subcommittees, we’ll open it right away in that transport one. Thanks for the tip, I’ll deliver the report,” the official noted in his reply on X.
Kolovratník’s nod to FSD hints at the system’s potentially smooth rollout to Czechia in the coming year. With the Netherlands possibly greenlighting FSD (Supervised) in early 2026, Kolovratník’s commitment could accelerate cross-border certification, boosting FSD’s foray into Europe by a notable margin.
-->
Tesla FSD Supervised is about to get a lot more ride-alongs in Europe begin in Italy, France, and Germany
Swedish union rep pissed that Tesla is working around a postal blockade they started
